Antibody coated bacteria in urine of patients with recent spinal injury

Article Abstract:

The diagnosis and treatment of invasive urinary tract infections in patients with spinal injury and neurogenic bladder is very difficult. These patients commonly have bacteriuria (bacteria in urine), but the clinical significance of this finding is difficult to assess since the usual clinical signs of cystitis (inflammation of the bladder) and pyelonephritis (inflammation of the kidney) may be absent. The antibody coated bacteria (ACB) test was developed in 1974 as a means of localizing the site of urinary tract infection by using a noninvasive method. A positive test was interpreted as an indication of renal (kidney) infection, but it became evident that false positives could result from other invasive urinary infections, such as prostatitis. To assess the clinical importance of the ACB test, and the association of the different bacterial species with the presence of ACB in the urine, 20 patients with recent spinal injury were tested. The patients included 17 males and 3 females, 12 to 67 years of age, who required catheter drainage of the bladder an average of seven days after sustaining spinal cord injuries. Clinical urinary tract infection was associated with a positive ACB test in 45 percent of the cases. Urine samples (399) containing 541 bacterial isolates were assessed for the presence of ACB; 13 percent were positive and 87 percent were negative for ACB. Single bacterial isolates were found in 67 percent of the urine samples. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was frequently identified in the cases of urinary tract infection (25 percent), followed by Proteus mirabilis (17.5 percent), Klebsiella sp (12.5 percent), and Proteus morganii (10 percent). Providencia stuartii was commonly associated with a positive ACB test (17 percent of cases). The results suggest that a positive ACB test is not likely in a patient with spinal injury who has a catheter in place. The ACB test may provide a useful guide for identifying patients with an invasive urinary tract infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Diagnosis, Physiological aspects, Urinary tract infections, Bacteria in the urine, Bacteriuria, Spinal cord injuries

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Severe granulomatous arthritis due to spinous injury by a ''sea mouse'' annelid worm

Article Abstract:

Ocean bathing, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea, carries with it the risk of exposure to injuries resulting from sea urchin spine stings. These frequently result in soft tissue and bone granulomata (granular tumors) as well as destructive arthritis. Other sea creatures can produce similar responses in humans. This report is of an injury originally believed to be from a sea urchin spine, but shown by subsequent analyses to be due the spines of a marine annelid worm, called a ''sea mouse.'' A man snorkeling in the Mediterranean Sea suffered an injury, allegedly from falling on a sea urchin. Many spines were immediately removed. Subsequently, his finger became stiff, painful and functionless, and the injured phalanx required partial surgical amputation. Examination of the soft tissue of the finger showed the presence of a small spine, embedded in the palmar surface. Electron and light microscopic examination of the excised tissue sections showed the presence of spinous materials. Stained sections and specific tests confirmed the presence of the spines and further, that they were similar to the chitinous spines of the sea mice. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Injuries, Swimming, Fingers, Annelida, Annelids, Finger injuries

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Induction of chronic inflammatory arthropathy and mesenchymal tumors in rats infected with HTLV-I

Article Abstract:

HTLV-I can cause arthritis or tumors, depending on the immune status of the person. In a study of rats injected with HTLV-I taken from human patients, 89% developed tumors. Some also developed arthritis. Immunosuppression caused a decrease in the frequency of tumors and an increase in the frequency of partial paralysis.

Tumors, HTLV-I (Virus)

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